USDA REVISES PUBLIC LAW 480 COUNTRY ALLOCATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1997 Release No. 0140.97 USDA REVISES PUBLIC LAW 480 COUNTRY ALLOCATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1997 WASHINGTON, April 28, 1997--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today announced allocations of $205 million for 21 countries covering commodity financing extended under P.L. 480 Title I and commodity grants under the Food for Progress Program funded by Title I appropriations. Since the second-quarter FY 1997 announcement on January 22, 1997, agreements have been signed with El Salvador, Jamaica, Jordan, and Sri Lanka, and the planned commodity purchase being developed with the Philippines has changed from rice to soybean meal. Country funding allocations remain unchanged. "Situations can develop that cause a change in allocations during the fiscal year. "So these allocations do not necessarily represent final U.S. commitments with participating governments or private entities, Glickman said." USDA has proposed to Congress that $50 million be rescinded from the FY 1997 Title I appropriation to help offset a supplemental appropriations request for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Title I allocations that have already been announced for FY 1997 would not be affected because the reduction would be taken from FY 1997 funds not yet allocated and from FY 1996 unobligated funds. Title I of the Food for Peace Program is a concessional sales program to promote exports of agricultural commodities from the United States and to foster broad-based sustainable development in recipient countries. The program provides export financing over payment periods of up to 30 years, low interest rates, and maximum grace periods on payments of principal of up to 5 years. Private entities, including agricultural trade organizations, are authorized to participate in the program. Countries eligible for the Title I program are developing countries experiencing a shortage of foreign exchange earnings and difficulty meeting all of their food needs through commercial channels. The factors that determine priorities for country allocations include food needs, potential for becoming a commercial U.S. market, and likely improvement of food security through agricultural projects and economic measures. The allocations take into account changing economic and foreign policy situations, market development opportunities, existence of adequate storage facilities, and possible disincentives to local production. The Food for Progress program is an independently authorized program that may be funded with Title I monies. It is used to support countries that have made commitments to introduce or expand free enterprise elements in their agricultural economies. Changes might involve commodity pricing, marketing, input availability, distribution, and private sector involvement. Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Tajikistan are the countries currently expected to receive commodity donations through this program. For further information contact Ira D. Branson, FAS, (202) 720-3573. The list of country allocations follows. Third Quarter FY 1997 Public Law 480 Title I Country and Commodity Allocations Estimated Ocean Country Total Freight Financing Wheat Rice (Mil $) (Mil $) (--000 Metric tons--) Angola a/ 10.0 1.6 22.3 -- Armenia b/ 15.0 3.6 62.9 -- Bolivia 5.0 -- 27.0 -- Congo 5.0 -- -- 7.8 Cote d'Ivoire 5.0 -- -- 12.9 El Salvador 10.0 -- -- -- Georgia a/ 20.0 3.1 91.2 -- Guatemala 5.0 -- -- -- Guyana 9.0 -- 48.6 -- Jamaica 10.0 -- -- 25.9 Jordan 21.0 -- 113.5 -- Lithuania 10.0 -- -- -- Moldova a/ 10.0 1.4 46.6 -- Pakistan 10.0 -- -- -- Philippines 5.0 -- -- -- Sri Lanka 10.0 -- 54.0 -- Suriname 5.0 -- 13.5 -- Ukraine a/ 10.0 0.7 -- -- _____ _____ _____ _____ TOTAL 175.0 10.4 479.6 46.6 a/ Ocean freight financing is included in the total allocation estimate. b/ Ocean freight financing and inland transportation are included in the total allocation estimate for Armenia. Continued: P.L. 480 Title I Allocations, Third Quarter Fiscal 1997 Oilseed Country Veg. Oil Meal Tallow (----------------000 Metric Tons----------------) Angola 8.0 -- -- Armenia -- -- -- Bolivia -- -- -- Congo 3.7 -- -- Cote d'Ivoire -- -- -- El Salvador 5.2 18.1 2.4 Georgia -- -- -- Guatemala 4.6 7.4 -- Guyana -- -- -- Jamaica -- -- -- Jordan -- -- -- Lithuania -- 31.1 -- Moldova -- -- -- Pakistan -- 30.1 -- Philippines -- 15.1 -- Sri Lanka -- -- -- Suriname 4.6 -- -- Ukraine -- 28.1 -- _____ _____ _____ TOTAL 26.1 129.9 2.4 Food for Progress Program FY 1997 Estimated Ocean Wheat/ Country Total Freight Grant Wheat Flour (Mil $) (Mil $) (000 MT) Kyrgyzstan a/ 15.0 5.3 53.4 Mongolia a/ 5.0 2.3 8.5 Tajikistan a/ 10.0 3.5 35.1 _____ _____ _____ TOTAL 30.0 11.2 97.0 a/ Food for Pro gress Title I funded program totals include inland transportation costs. Program Level ($Million) Allocated Financing and Grant 205.0 Unallocated Reserve 21.9 _____ Total Available for Programs 226.9 Ocean Freight Differential 13.8 _____ TOTAL 240.7 # NOTE: USDA news releases and media advisories are available on the Internet. Access the USDA Home Page on the World Wide Web at http://www.usda.gov